Serum Amyloid A Levels Associated with Gastrointestinal Manifestations in Henoch-Schönlein Purpura

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is considered as an immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute-phase protein with proinflammatory effects. We investigated the levels of SAA in HSP patients and examined whether SAA levels are associated with organ involvement and disease severity. Seventy patients with HSP, including 35 with nephritis (HSPN) and 35 without HSPN, and 20 controls were recruited in our study. SAA levels were measured and other clinical laboratory parameters, including C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, complement 3 (C3), C4, and immunoglobulin (Ig) A, were recorded. SAA levels were not found to be independently associated with renal, joint involvement, and disease severity. However, higher SAA levels were observed in HSP patients with gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations (p = 0.006, p _c  = 0.048). Moreover, the levels of SAA were significantly associated with duration of disease (p < 0.005, p _c  < 0.04). Our findings suggested that SAA was significantly associated with disease duration and GI manifestations in HSP patients.